SWAPPING WELFARE FOR A SCHEME WHICH WORKS

NEW YORK, the global welfare mecca, is about to undergo a revolution.
Trailblazing Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, who has broken the criminal
stranglehold on this city, is about to tackle the welfare morass and
promises to end dependency by 2000.

His program should be studied by our Federal Opposition, which seems
determined to win electoral favour by returning to an outdated model of
failed big taxing, big spending welfarist policies.

Mayor Giuliani has reduced New York City's welfare rolls by more than
400,000 since March 1995 with the implementation of a work experience
program which encourages welfare recipients to develop the skills and
habits necessary to get them back on their feet and become productive
members of the workforce.

Now he has pledged that by 2000 all adults and heads of families now on
welfare will be working in a private, or if necessary, public job, - but
they will earn their money.

Those unable to work for a good reasons are given governmental support, but
owe work in the future to pay for the benefits they receive.

And those on drugs aren't neglected either. Any drug abusers who show up
seeking benefits are immediately enrolled in mandatory drug treatment
programs in which work is an integral part of the rehabilitation process.

"Many of the politicians and political theorists who in the past supported
the expansion of welfare were described as 'progressive' but that
description was not consistent with the effect welfare actually had on the
lives of people," Mayor Giuliani said, announcing his program.

"There was a major disconnection between political theory and its
consequences in reality."

Acknowledging that for every right there is a corresponding responsibility
is the first step in the New York City reforms.

Surely it is not too much to ask.

Checked-by: Mike Gogulski